Senate committee approves McClellan to head FDA

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved the nomination of Mark McClellan to head the Food and Drug Administration. However, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) will not send the nomination to the full Senate until McClellan responds to a list of questions about his plans for the federal agency. McClellan is expected to respond by the end of next week. A physician with a doctorate in medical economics, McClellan previously served as a White House health policy adviser and as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers in the current Bush administration. The full Senate is expected to confirm McClellan as FDA commissioner before Congress adjourns later this month.